Don't we all enjoy a good scare now and then? Mystery novels are always favorites, while horror movies frequently top the box office earning charts. As Halloween approaches and the variety of villains proliferates, how do we keep all those ghoulish devils straight?

So, for smooth social sailing this Halloween, or on any dark and scary night, keep our Monster Guide handy to remember who's who in the rogue's gallery. And don't be too frightened, but some of these evil stories may actually be true . . .